After Luo Ling left, only Lu Lin and Zuo Yiming remained.
Although Zuo Yiming had made an effort to be approachable, Lu Lin still felt uncomfortable, so he also prepared to take his leave.
However, Zuo Yiming suddenly grabbed him.
"Wait."
"Lu Lin, don't go. Keep me company and chat."
"I feel like I'm suffocating."
As Zuo Yiming spoke, he took off his well-tailored suit jacket, unbuttoned the top three buttons of his shirt, and rolled up his shirt sleeves, baring most of his forearms.
"What are you...?"
Lu Lin looked at Zuo Yiming, who seemed like a completely different person.
Wasn't he just a wealthy young master, a scion of a prestigious family, a moment ago? How did he become like this in the blink of an eye?
"What, not used to it?"
Zuo Yiming chuckled, kicked off his leather shoes, and casually scratched his toes.
Seeing Lu Lin's expression, he felt a surge of self-satisfaction.
"Surprised? Did you not expect someone from a prominent family like mine to be so... unrefined?"
"Actually, the Zuo Yiming others perceived was merely the image I wanted them to see."
"Now, this is the real me."
"Those old fogeys at home are really something, always harping on about having good breeding and proper decorum. But our Zuo Family only began its ascent during my great-grandfather's generation. Before that, the Zuo Family were little more than peasants."
"Enough about that, Old Lu," Zuo Yiming said. "Have you picked out a university yet?"
"Uh, not yet."
Lu Lin used to have a dream university. But now, with the awakening of his double talent, the comprehension of Double Star Skills, and the possibility of becoming Jiang Yueming's disciple, his goals and ambitions had naturally changed.
However, in such a short time, Lu Lin hadn't yet formed a definite target.
But he would definitely choose one from the Blue Star Eighteen University Alliance.
Schools pick geniuses. Geniuses, of course, also pick schools.
"Oh, you haven't? That's perfect! My family has arranged for me to study at Southwest Star Martial Military Academy. How about you come with me?"
"My father has a good friend who is the Vice Principal there. He has already made arrangements for me, so once we're there, his friend will take care of us a bit."
"We both came from Golden Sword High School, so we won't be bullied at the Military Academy."
"What do you say?"
Zuo Yiming invited him sincerely, even revealing his personal connections to Lu Lin.
However, Lu Lin wasn't swayed by this.
The Southwest Military Academy wasn't highly ranked among the Eighteen Colleges, only around eleventh or twelfth.
Zuo Yiming wouldn't need to worry about resources, development, or education. His family would arrange everything for him. Even if there were occasional oversights, the Vice Principal at the Military Academy would likely smooth things over.
After graduating, Zuo Yiming would pursue a career in the military. With his connections and considerable abilities, he was clearly destined to be another rising star in the armed forces.
But what did he, Lu Lin, have? Parents who farmed on Saturn and a family hundreds of thousands in debt.
Following Zuo Yiming might ensure he wouldn't lack for food or clothing, and his future development wouldn't be a major concern.
But that wasn't what Lu Lin wanted. He was a Transversal. After struggling so hard to come to this world, was he supposed to become someone's lackey? He couldn't bear to disgrace his countless fellow Earthlings by doing so.
"Thank you, but no need," Lu Lin declined quite directly.
"No problem," Zuo Yiming said. "Do you have any particular school in mind? I can help put in a good word for you."
"Old Lu, there's no need for such formalities between us brothers. With your aptitude, you can pretty much take your pick from any school in the Federal Eighteen University Alliance."
"If you have one you like, tell me, and I'll recommend you."
Lu Lin was speechless and rolled his eyes at Zuo Yiming. This guy didn't have good intentions. He was clearly from the Zuo Family, yet he was being so calculating, unwilling to let even such a minuscule benefit slip by.
There are generally two ways for the Eighteen University Union to recruit students: independent school admissions and talent recommendation.
For example, if Southwest Military Academy failed to recognize Lu Lin's aptitude in time, and Lu Lin applied to other schools when declaring his preferences, then if Zuo Yiming recommended Lu Lin to Southwest Military Academy, and Lu Lin was successfully admitted, Zuo Yiming would receive a substantial recommendation reward.
This reward would be considerable for Lu Lin, but for Zuo Yiming, hailing from the Zuo Family, it was merely a drop in the ocean.
Lu Lin gave a couple of cold chuckles, not wanting to bother with Zuo Yiming.
"You have a new communication request. Do you want to connect?"
Zuo Yiming was about to say something, but Lu Lin waved his hand at him and accepted the communication.
A middle-aged man wearing glasses appeared on the screen.
Lu Lin didn't recognize him.
"Hello, Student Lu Lin," the man said with a smile, extending his right hand towards Lu Lin.
Lu Lin didn't immediately shake his hand and asked, "And you are...?"
"Hehe, Student Lu Lin, I am an admissions teacher from Hua Xia Dahan Star Martial Arts School. You can call me Teacher Chen."
Teacher Chen pushed up his glasses and continued, "Our Hua Xia Dahan Star Martial Arts School is dedicated to cultivating students talented in the five basic elemental attributes. In our 400-year history, we have nurtured 78 Level 9 Star Warriors and 212 Level 8 Star Warriors. Thirty years ago, our school was invited to join the newly established Eighteen University Union. In just those thirty years, we have advanced from our initial 18th position to the current 17th."
"The Dahan Star Martial Arts School offers multiple majors, including the Exotic Battlefield Combat Department, Assistance Department, and Special Attribute Combat Department. Among these, the Exotic Battlefield Combat Department is our school's Ace Specialty."
"Student Lu, if you would honor us by joining our school, we will provide you with first-rate faculty, a luxurious single-occupancy villa-style dormitory, and no less than 300 hours of Cultivation Room access per semester..."
Teacher Chen was still rambling on, and Zuo Yiming, listening from the side, was quite speechless. Lu Lin had directly refused even the Southwest Military Academy that I suggested. It would be a miracle if he even gave your Dahan Star Martial Arts School, ranked seventeenth, a second glance.
Besides... Zuo Yiming wondered if this admissions officer, Teacher Chen, wasn't all there. To attract talent, shouldn't one offer the most generous terms possible? What was all that about first-rate faculty, a luxurious single-occupancy dormitory, and a mere 300 hours of Cultivation Room access per semester? There was no sincerity at all. It would be truly bizarre if Lu Lin chose them.
Sure enough, Lu Lin shook his head at Teacher Chen and said, "Teacher Chen, I appreciate your school's recognition, but I already have a university in mind. Thank you."
"Ah... well, alright then," Teacher Chen said, his face a little awkward, but he still hadn't given up. "I wish you success in achieving your goals at your chosen university. Also... if I may be so bold, could I ask which school you've selected?"
"It's not convenient to disclose that right now," Lu Lin replied. "If there's nothing else, I'll end the communication now."
"Ah, alright. Goodbye, Student Lu."
As Teacher Chen ended the call, he couldn't help but feel puzzled. The Lu Lin he faced was clearly just an eighteen-year-old youth, yet he felt as if he were dealing with the principal, every word and action being led by the other party.
Lu Lin had just disconnected when another communication request came in.
"Hello, Student Lu Lin. I'm an admissions teacher from Southeast Industrial School. My surname is Wang..."
"Hello, Student Lu Lin. I'm Smith, an admissions teacher from Northern Europe Birmingham School..."
"Hello, Student Lu Lin. I'm Liang Siqi, an admissions teacher from Huahai Star Martial Arts School..."